The Miracle

“You are most welcome Ma’m” These words pleasantly surprised me. Because they didn’t come from a customer service executive of my cell provider or my bank or some one trying to sell me something useless, they came from an auto driver – and that too in Bangalore. Bangalore – a city where I have had not many occasions to be pleasantly surprised. I am eternally at war with the city’s auto drivers. They don’t come from Bangalore Central to Ulsoor because its too close They don’t come from Bangalore Central to Banaswadi because its too far. They want Rs.20 on the meter for a normal distance that they do graciously agree to ply on. They ask for one and a half times or if they are really in the mood of a prying hyena, twice the meter fare. On top of all the cash they ask extra, they then jack up the meter. So a fare which should cost you say 50 bucks, turns out to be 80 on the meter and you pay double of that … so go figure, why I love them so much!!
Anyway, that fateful day, I was wearing my new paid of shoes and they were killing me. I didn’t think I could do my regular hike up to Shivaji Nagar bus stop. So I steeled up for a fight with one of the many auto drivers who laze in front of my office building. Most days the word Banaswadi affects auto drivers like the black plague or something. They violently shake their heads and then lose their senses – go around making crazy demands like “150 hota ma…” a bangalorean’s way of telling you that the fare would be Rs.150/- (if that’s not crazy talk, I don’t know what is). I decide to start from the last guy and work my way to the head of the line. But lo behold!!!!! The guy actually smiles and says OK. So I get in and give him the location. He then does something which is even more unbelievable. He asks me if he can take me through Ulsoor, Cox town as Kamraj Road is kind of clogged with traffic and signals… I say ok… the trip is going pretty much smoothly. I keep looking at the meter to see if it’s jacked and there is no indication of that. Finally “me casa” arrives. The meter is on the dot what it should be Rs.58/-. I pay him Rs.60/-, thank him as I thank all my auto drivers – even the ones that don’t deserve it and start leaving and that’s when he says the magical words – “you are most welcome Ma’m” and gives me back Rs.2/-.
I guess miracles do happen!!